Fire protection standpipe system



y 4, 1935. 3 w F. CONRAN 2,001,300

FIRE PROTECTION STANDPIPE SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l V fli Y 42- g 0 f W 4 INVENTOR y ,1935. w. F. CONRAN 2,001,300

FIRE PROTECTION STANDPIPE SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1951 s Shee cS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO NEY May 14, 1935.

r w. F. CONRAN FIRE PROTECTION STANDPIPE SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1931 5-Sheets-Sheet 3 L INVENTOR May 14, 1935. w. F. CONRAN FIRE PROTECTION STANDPIPE SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1931 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 DD: INVENTOR AT ORNEY M y 1935- w. F. CONRAN 2,001,300

FIRE PROTECTION STANDPIPE SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 57 a INVENTOR WLZLM 74W...

A TTORNE Y Patented May 14, 1935 2.001300 v I FIRE PROTECTION smnnrrrn szsrnm William F; Conran. BrooklymNfY. Application June 29, 1931, senarno. 547,617

' 13 Claims. (01. 169 16)] "This invention relates to standpipe systems-for fire-protection in buildings. Systems of this general character are disclosed in nfy'Patents Nos. 816,l52, 1,156,9'78and 1,253,005 and in eertainzcopending applications.

.In such standpipe systems, the standpipeis provided with nozzles at the several floors and With-valves for openingand closing communication between the-nozzle branches and the interior of the standpipe, these valves being eontrol-lable independently from a central control station in the lower part of the building. The standpipe with its nozzles may be raised and lowered, or it may be turned, or it may be capable of both of these movements. Again, the indivi'dual nozzles may be" pivoted so that their vertical deflection can be changed or so that they can be oscillatedup and down, such movements of the nozzles being also individually controllable 0 from the-"control station.

Inaddition to the nozzles carried by the stand pipe, it is important to provide hose outlets and valves at the several floors. The hose can be used by a person on the floor-wherea fire may occur. When it proves impossible to subdue the fireat close quarters the person operating the hose' may be: compelled to seek safety Without closing-the hose valve, and it then'becomes impossible to deliver an adequate-stream fromthe standpipe nozzle at the floor, or at any floor, under remote control from the control station, because the open hose valve robs the pressure.

One of the-objects of this invention is to 'provid'e means for automatically 'closing the outflow through the hose connectionwhen the nozzle valve at the same floor is opened from the control station. This is preferably accomplished by the provisionof a remote-control valve in combination-with seats against which it can close alternately in two positions. In the normal position of this valve it closes against a seat through which Water must pass to the nozzle and is away from "a seat through which water must passto the hose valve. When the remote control valve is opened inrespectto the nozzle it is closed in respect to the hose valve. Manifestly a combination of valve elements subject to the same operation of the remote-control means will servethe same purpose as a double-faced valve.

Another object of the invention is to relieve the interior of the standpipe of obstructionibythe controllines and at the same time adequately toprotect these control lines. I

Another objeot is toreconcile the eterna'l-dis position of thecontrol lines and their protective enclosures =with movability of the standpipe. Special bearings-are;provided-in this connectionfor laterally "supporting the standpipe and for affording passage of the control-linesand their enclosures without interfering with the movability of the standpipe.

Stillanotherobject arena inventionis. to pmv'idethe standpipe" with nozzles which can be swung in horizontalarcsrelatively to the standpipe, so as to" turn the "streams in any lateral direction'or'to cause them'to sweep back and forth over an area. For such operation the nozzles are controllable independently "from the rem otepontrol" station; f

, Other objects and features of the invention will becomefapparentfrom the drawings and from themore"detailed description of the illustrative embodiments shown'therein. v f

In the saidjdrawingsi l Figf 1 is'an" elevation of a standpipe'system con structed in accordance with the invention; 1' parts being broken out for economy" of space and only two floors being illustrated on which the" nozzles and hose valves are shown;

'ig. 2"is"a view on'an enlargedscale, parts being in'elevation"and parts insection and looking in thesame direction as in Fig. 1;

'Figffi is'a fragmentary detail longitudinal section taken on" the line"6'-"6 ofF'ig. 3;

Fig-7- is a-view-similar to*Fig.-'1 showing a somewhat' different" form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a detail cross sec'tional-view' taken on the line -8'8of Fig. "7, parts being in elevation;

FigJQis-a'cross=sectional view taken on the line9-9 of'Figfi'l;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary'longitudinalsectional view taken on the Iine" l0--'l'0of Fig. 9

-Figl 11" is a cros's sectional view taken line ll-ll"of Fig. 7; and I Figi'l 2 isa fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken on theli-ne IZ -IZ Qf-Fi'g. 11.

Reference will-'no'w -be ha d 'to 'Fi'gs. l'to 6. The stan'dpipe l' compris'es' 'a number 'ofpipe sections 3 joinedtogether"by the nozzle fittings 4 and the operating station fitting 5. The bottom pipe section '3flis closed by a cap B carrying the'supporting pivofl'l, which-is rotatably supported in a bearing pedestal 8. The I standpipe extends upwardly through the floors 9 of thezbuilding and receii'res lateral support in'the bearings H], which will ber'described more indetail -later l on.

A fitting ll, provided with the usual Siamese connection l2, f,orms the-inlet to thestandpipe,

on the and a lever [3' at the operating station provides while only two such fittings are illustrated in Fig. 1, they are to be located at intervals throughout the length of the standpipe to protectthe several floors or stories. Each fitting is shown with a branch l4 bifurcated atits outer end to. provide a pivoted connection for the finozzle-l5.

The branch l4' contains spaced, opposed seats l6 and I1, against which a disc valve H! can close alternately. Applied to an extension of the branch M is a hose connection having a manually operated hose valve 2|. The hose valve connection 8!) is backof the seat To it is' attached a fire-hose 22 carried; by'ja hose rack 23,"

which may be supported on the standpipe or on a wall adjacent the standpipe. For clearness of illustration the hose rack has. been shown high up, but that is not necessary. a c

The valve lilis on-a stem 24, passing through astufiing-box 25 infone headot a cylinder 26 which forms a cover for the extension 20. A piston 21 attached to the otherend of stem iii, to work in the cylinder 26, provides for operation of the valve 8.

A spring 28 acting on the piston urges the valve I5 to the seat I6, against whichit will also beheld by water pressure'in the standpipe,- and the, valve is moved away, from, said seat and against the seat I! by theadmission of pressure fluid below the piston through the control pipe 29. It will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 2 that the valve IS in the/normal position shown in this view will close communication between the standpipe and the nozzle and permit the standpipe fluid to be supplied to the-hose valve 2 i Y I .It will likewise be apparent that when fluid pressure .is supplied to the cylinder 26 under the piston 21 the disc valve |8 will be forced against the seat I! and communicationwill be closed between the standpipe and the hose valve and established between the nozzle l5 and'the standpipe. Thus-it is impossible .for standpipe fluid to be supplied simultaneously to the hose valve and to the nozzle. In'consequence, the important result-is obtained of insuring full water pressure for either the hose 22 or the standpipe nozzle I5, depending upon which is in use. When a person ona particular floor, who has been trying to extinguish a fire with the hose, is forced i to drop it and seek-safety, the supply of water is automatically suspended to the hose, as soon as the nozzle is brought into action by'r emote control, thus making certain that themaximum pressure .will 'be effective at the nozzle- |5 and'not be wasted through the open ,hose'valve.

arm 3| extending from the branch |4- carries a cylinder 32, in which is a'piston 33. Its piston rod 36 extends through a stuffing-box and is connected to the nozzle by alink 35. Operating pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder 32, under piston 33, by a control pipe 36.

In a number of my former disclosures, the fluid-pressure controllines were disposed inside of the standpipef In my Patent No. 816,152 the control pipes were outsideofthe standpipe,- but theawkwardness of such sin-arrangementin connection with a standpipe which was to be movable rotatably or vertically, or both, as well as the danger of injury to such small control pipes, caused me thereafter to conduct them inside the standpipe, except where it was necessary for them to emerge. Mechanically, that plan is excellent, and it gives protection to the control lines, but

these advantages are secured at the expense of obstructing flow of the fire-fighting fluid in the standpipe and of making access to the control .lines difficult, either for inspection or for repair. 'Oneof the objects of the present invention is to combine the advantages of these two different types of constructions, without the disadvantages of either. The control pipes are carried with and outside of the standpipe, but in such a way as not to interfere with the movement of the standpipe or with the provision of lateral support direct to the standpipe, and the control pipes are housed and protected, but in such .a way that they are accessible. Furthermore, the openings through the floor are effectively closed so as to prevent thespreading oi fire from'on level to another by flue action. i

The control pipes 29 and 36 are preferably bunched together in groups extending close'along the outside of the standpipe. There may be one, two or several of these groups, depending upon the number of control lines-and the number of floors the standpipe is to protect. As illustrated, the control lines'29 for the nozzle valves lS-are grouped at one side of the standpipe, and the control lines 36 for moving thenozzles .relatively to the standpipe are'grouped at the opposite side of the standpipe. the standpipe nozzles about their individual pivots should not be required, the control lines 36 can be omitted. On the other hand, either group of control lines may be split up into smaller groups. p

The control lines extend downwardly to the operating station, where they enter the standpipe to receivefluid under pressure and adjacent this point they are provided with three- Way valves 31. V

A preferred form of means for protecting the external control lines will now be described. The nozzle fittings 4 have ears 49-40 at their upper parts and other ears ill-4| at their lower portions. These ears are apertured for thev free passageof the control lines. The upper cars 40 are counterbored for the reception of the lower ends of tubular enclosures 42. The lower ears 4| have threaded openings which receive externally threaded bushings 43. extend below the ears 4| in the form of a nut and accommodate the upper ends of the sleeves 42. IByv rotating the- ,bushing 43 vuntil the threaded part'is out of engagement with the threaded ear ll, the bushing can be dropped and the annular enclosure members 42 can be freed from the ears.. In this manner effective protection meansis provided for the control lines between the fittings and also one that readily lends itself to ease in assembling or disassembling. V The portions of the control lines extending along'and adjacent to the fittings" 4 are pro tected'by removable shields 45, as shown par-' ticularly in Figs. 3 and 6. The edges of the shields conform to the faces of the fittings-and are provided with ears 46. Screws 'or bolts 41 pass through these ears and into the body ofthe fitting. Cutouts are'provided in the shields for leading out thecontrol' lines 29 and 36 at the several nozzle fittings. v

r rr" If movement of These bushings l inspection or'repair of the-control lines. protective sleeves 42 being-extended downward carries a'roller 5| which engagesthe inner sur-- face of a flanged annulus 52 secured to the floor;

The brackets are spaced apart in order to i5 provide ample roomfor'theprotection tubes-'42 and the control lines to pass between them. A cover plate 53=restson the annulus'52 and is free to rotate withthe'standpipe' and the protective enclosures 42 --which"passthrough it and which are closely surrounded by'the edges of the openings of the cover plate.

As the lower parts'of the control lines emerge from-the lowermost protective sleeves 42 some of them are coiled partway around the standpipe, as shown in Fig. 9, to' connect with their respective-valvesSl, which in turn are connected with the interior of thestandpipe as illustrated in Fig. 10. It is very desirable-to afford protection meansfor the control lines at this point.

Forthis purpose a bell-'shaped housing is provided. This housing -is=made in segmental form for purposes of assembly and so that any of the segments can be separately removed for The to the housing 55, the-'control'lines are covered forsubstantially all their length, only the control valves 31 being exposed. The valves and their adjoining exposed connections canbe made of ammo rugged-construction than'the light weight pipe-used in the-control lines.

Reference will-now-be had to Figs. 7 to 12, in which similar parts to those'described here'- tofore-bear like reference numerals with the super-character a.. The parts illustrated and described in connection'with Figs. Sand 10 are common to that form of theinvention heretofore described andto the form of the invention nowabout to be described.

-As before; the standpipel 'comprises pipe sections 3*- joined together by nozzle fittings 4 and an operatingstation'fitting 5 A lever l3 may be provided for manually turning thestandpipe. In-addition toturning the standpipe means are provided inthis-form of the invention=for moving the standpipe vertically. This means.

may be varied, and asillustrated a'hydraulic cylinder such as disclosed'in my;prior patents is'used.

i The'nozzles l5 arearranged to be oscillated in a horizontal plane relatively tothe standpipe instead of vertically. The means for accomplishing this are particularly illustrated in Fig. 8, where it willbeseen that the details of construction are quite similar'to"those'heretofore described, with the exception of the parts being disposed-in a plane at-substantially right angles to that shown in 'Figs. 1 to 6. Arranging the nozzles in this manner secures a maximum coverage by the streams and'enables nozzles at different levels to be turned in different lateral directions' independentlyof each other. The standpipe may or may not be turned. I-Iose valves 2 i similar to" valves *2 I, are secured to extensions Ml from the branches I4 A somewhat modified form of bearing member I [l is shown in connection "with-this form of the invention'though it isequallyapplicable to the other form. A flanged-ring mis secured to the floor. an annular groove "H which is engaged, butnot tightly, by the .ends of set-screws'l'z. The setscrews 12' are carried man-annular skirt 13 depending from a-plate 'l-fl'. The plate 14 has apertures through which the protecting sleeves 42 pass freely but closelyand-a central aperture 15 through which the-standpipe passes. Ball bearings 16 areprovided inthe plate "14 for contact with the-'standpipe.

Whenthe standpipe-is turned the protecting sleeves M 'are'carriedwith it -and-the: set-screws i2 move in the groove 1|. When-the standpipe is moved verticallythe ball bearingslt permit of a free and easy movement and the set-screws l2 engaging the groove H preventany vertical displacement of thepartsof the bearing.

From the foregoing description andan inspection of the drawings itis thought that the operation-of the-invention will beapparent.

Since numerous changes may be made in the forms of the invention whichhave been described and other forms may be-readily devised, it will be understood that-the'foregoingdescription is to be consideredas being illustrative and not limiting. I

I claim:

1. In a .standpipe system" for buildings, the combination .of a standpipeto which. fluid under pressure is supplied, fittings at'spaced intervals in said standpipe, aremotecontrol nozzle valve in eachfitting, .a nozzle carried by eachfitting, a hose valve associated with-each fitting, each nozzle valve in one position shutting off the supply of fluid to saidinozzle and in another position shutting oil the supply of fluid to said hose valve, and means for selectively operating said nozzle valves from a commonicontrol station, whereby when a nozzle valve at any level-is'thus opened loss of pressure for discharging the nozzle. stream is prevented even though-'. the corresp'onding'hose valve has been-left open.

2. In a standpipe system 'for buildings, the combination of astandpipetto which fluid under pressure is supplied, fittings at spaced relations in said standpipe, a nozzle on -each fitting, a double-faced valve mounted on each fitting, a fluid pressure actuated piston for moving said double-faced valve, a'valve seat on either side of said double faced' valve, a manuallyoperated hose valve in each fitting, said double-faced valve when cooperating with theseat at one side closing communication between the nozzle and the standpipe,-and when cooperating with the seat at the other side closing communication between the hose valve and the standpipe, and control lines passing from said fluid-actuated j pistons ,to a common control station and there provided with respective control valves, whereby when anozzle valve at any level is opened from the control stapipe to "a "control station, a sectional 'senclosure for said grouped control lines, and detachable The 4 upstanding fiange of a this ring has connections securing sectionsof said enclosure to said nozzle fittings. i

4. In a standpipe system for buildings, the combination of a standpipe having nozzle fittings at intervals, a fluid-actuated valve in each fitting, grouped control lines extending from said, valves along the outside of the standpipe to a control station, shields applied to the nozzle fittings to cover the grouped control lines wherethey extend along the fittings, detachable connections securing said shields to said fittings, and other shields enclosing the control lines between the fittings.

5. In a standpipe system for buildings, the combination of a standpipe having nozzle, fittings at intervals, a fluid actuated valve in each fitting, grouped control lines extending from said valves along the outside of the standpipe to a control station,shiel ds applied to the nozzle fittingsto cover thegrouped control lines where they extend along the fittings, sleeves enclosing the control lines betweenthe fittings, detachable connections securing said shields ,to said fittings, and slip connections for securing saidsleeves,

6. In a standpipe system for buildings, the combination of a vertically movable and rotatable standpipe having -nozzlesbranches at 'difierent levels, fluid-actuated means associated with said nozzle branches-control lines passing from said fluid-actuatedmeans along the outside of the standpipe to a control station, and bearings for said standpipe, each of said bearings comprising a floor-plate and a rotatable part which turns on the floor-plate with the standpipe and in which the standpipe is verticallyrnovable, said rotatable part having openings through which said control lines pass, and anti-friction :members between the standpipe and said rotatable part.

'7. In a fire-extinguishing standpipe system for buildings, the combination of a nozzle and a nozzle valve carried by the standpipe, a hose connection and a hose valve likewise carried by the standpipe and in the same general vicinity with said nozzle and nozzle valve,,remote control means for operating said nozzle valve from a station away from the heat zone of aifire in the space protected by said nozzle and nozzle valve and said hose connection and hose valve, and means for automatically shutting off communication between the hose valve and the standpipe when opening of the nozzle valve is brought about by said remote control means.

8. In a'fire-extinguishing standpipe system for buildings, the combination of a nozzle and a nozzle valve carried by the standpipe, a hose connection with a hose valve likewise carried by the standpipe'and in the same general vicinity with said nozzle and nozzle valve, and remote control means operableirom a station away from the heat zone of a fire in the space protected by said nozzle and nozzle valve, to open said nozzle valve and simultaneously shutoff communication between said hose valve and the standpipe.

9. In a fire-extinguishing standpipe system for buildings, the combination with the standpipe, of nozzles and nozzle valves carried by the standpipe at different levels, hose connections and valves likewise carried byjthe standpipe to protect the same regions as the nozzles and nozzle valves, connections passing from the several nozzle valves to a common control station to effect selective opening of any one or more of said nozzle valves, and means controlled by the same connectionsito efiect the shutting off of comof any one or more of said nozzle valves, and

means for automatically shutting off communication between a hosevalve or hosevalves and the standpipe when opening of the neighboring nozzle valve or nozzle valves is effected as the result of operation of the corresponding control valve or control valves at the control station. I

11. In a fire-extinguishing system, for buildings, the combination of a movable standpipe having nozzles and fluidwactuated nozzle valves at different levels, fluidcontrol lines passing from the several fluid-actuated nozzle valves to a common control ,station, said fluidcontrol lines being collected together in a compact group extending along the outside of the standpipe, a protective enclosure. for said control lines, said enclosure being eccentric. to the standpipe and assembled with the standpipe to move therewith, and floor bearings through which the standpipe passes, said bearings being constructedand arranged to afford lateral support direct'to the standpipe and to accommodate said enclosure. v r

[12, In afire-eXtinguishing system for buildings, the combination -of a movable standpipe having nozzles and fluid-actuated nozzle valves at different levels, fluid control lines passing from the several fluid-actuated nozzle valves to a common control station, said fluid control lines being collected together in a compact group extending along the outside of the standpipe, a protective enclosure for said control lines, said enclosure being eccentric to the standpipe and assembled withthe standpipe to move therewith, and floor bearings through which the standpipe passes, said bearings being constructed and arranged to afiord lateral support direct to the standpipe and to accommodate said enclosure, said bearings having plates with openingsclosely surrounding said standpipe and said enclosure to prevent flue action through the bearings.

v 13. In a fire-extinguishing system for buildhugs, the combination of a movable standpipe having at different levels movable nozzles, fluidactuated nozzle valves and fluid-actuated devices for moving-the nozzles; relatively to the standpipe, fluid control lines passing from the severalfiuid actuated valves to a common control station, other fluid control lines passing to the control station from-theseveral fluid-actuated devices,

for moving the nozzles, the control linesfor, the two purposes being segregatedin-separate com pact groups extending along the outside of the standpipe, separate enclosures for said groupsoi control lines, said, enclosures being eccentric to the standpipe and assembledwith the standpipe to move therewith, and floor bearingsthrough whichthe standpipepasses,- said bearings being constructed and arrangedto afiord lateral sup port direct to the standpipe-andlto' accommodate said enclosures,

I L M F COINRAN- k 

